Improvement in cans or vessels for liquids



J.'P. ADAMS. Can o'r Vessel for Liquid No. 203,868. Patented May 21, 1878.

"- PETERS, FHOIO-LITHOGRAPHER, wASHmGToN, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. ADAMS, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN: CANS OR VESSELS FOR LIQUIDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,868, dated May 21, 1878; application filed I March 1, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. ADAMS, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Cans or Vessels for Liquids, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to liquid holding and transporting cans or vessels which are provided with a supply-opening at the top or upper end and a separate discharge spout or nozzle, such cans or vessels being usually employed for holding illuminatingoils, &c., in small quantities and feeding the same to lamps through the spout.

My invention has for its object to provide a can in which the top portion will serve at once as a cover for the body of the can and a funnel for filling the same, so that the can may be conveniently filled without the use of a funnel added to the top or cover thereof; and to this end it consists in a can composed of a body having a lateral discharge-spout, a recessed or sunken top provided at its lowest portion with a suppIyopening, and a stopper which completely closes the supply-orifice, as I will now proceed to describe.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a can embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the same and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 represent sectional views of modifications.

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A represents the body of a can for holding illuminating-oil or other liquid. B represents the discharge spout or nozzle of thecan, this spout and the body or lower portion of the can being constructed in the usual or any desired manner, and forming no part of my invention. 0 represents the top of the can, having a supply-opening, D. This top is preferably made, as heretofore, in the shape of the frustum of a cone; but, instead of being upright, so as to incline downwardly from the supply-opening to the body of the can, is sunken or recessed, so as to inoline upwardly from the supply-opening to or beyond the body of the can, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the short tube, which surrounds the supply-opening, extending down into the body of the can.

It will be seen that the top 0, arranged as shown and described, constitutes not only a cover for the body of the can, but also a permanent funnel, which is always ready for use.

I do not, of course, limit myself to making the top conical in form, as any form whereby the top is sunken or recessed, so as to be highest at or near the point where it joins the body of the can, and is provided with a sup- 7 ply-opening at its lowest portion, will be no departure from the spirit of my invention. For instance, the top may be of a dish or saucer shape, as shown in Fig. 3, or slightly dished and with a raised rim, as shown in Fig. 4. The supply-opening D may be closed by a'cork or other removable device; or, if desired, the top of the can may be provided with an opening, 0, covered bya plate or cap, 19, as shown in Fig. 5, said cap being pivoted to the top G, and adapted to rotate thereon, and provided with an opening, 0, adapted to register with the opening'o when the plate 19 is properly turned. 7

The openings 0 0, when connected, constitute the supply-opening, which is closed by turning the plate 10 to disconnect said openings 0 0. The plate 19 may be provided with a handle, h, for convenience in turning the plate.

I It is necessary to use the recessed or sunken top in connection with a body having a separate discharge-spout, for if such dischargespout were not provided, and the contents of the vessel could only be poured out through the supply-opening, the vessel could not be entirely emptied on account of the trough or annular depression formed by the top around the supply-openingwhen the vessel is inverted, as will be readily seen.

I am aware that funnels have been attached to the nozzles and to the breasts of cans, and have been then provided with stoppers, which completely close the cans also of the coffee-pot in United States Patent No. 952,

dated September 28, 1838, which has a fun- In testimony whereof I have signed my nel-shaped steamer attached to its body; and name to this specification. in the presence of these I do not claim; but two subscribing witnesses.

What I do claim is- The combination of a body, A, having a 7 JOHN P. ADAMS.

spout, B, with a permanent funnel-head, (3,

attached directly to the body A, and having Witnesses:

a supply-opening at its lowest portion, and 0.13. BROWN, With a stopper, which completely closes the GEO. W. PIERCE. supply-orifice as and for the purpose set forth. 

